Kevin Krewell of The Linley Group found the Tegra 4 is the best-performing ARM-based processor, as long as power constraints don’t throttle its four cores. The analyst noted that because both processor have not yet been released, the information is based on previously disclosed details, benchmarks and recent estimates.

“This performance takes aim at Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon processors. Nvidia offered a wide range of benchmark results that clearly showed Tegra 4 leading both the APQ8064 and (judging from our estimates) the forthcoming Snapdragon 800,” he said. “Based on these estimates, even Qualcomm’s best processor, which is due to enter production at about the same time as Tegra 4, won’t surpass Nvidia in these tests.”

While NVIDIA likely has the fastest mobile processor, Qualcomm may still have an advantage. Krewell explained that the company has designed its processors for power efficiency, compared to the Tegra 4’s maximum performance at maximum power ideology.

“Snapdragon will challenge Tegra 4’s performance in smartphones, but in tablets, Tegra 4 will really shine,” he said.